Category Archives: 3DS

The Nintendo 3DS sold 384,000 units during August, the month the huge price drop went live. This amount is 2.6 times the amount sold in July. However, the console has yet to exceed the one-month sales figure of 430,000, achieved during March when the 3DS was released. Nintendo are selling each 3DS console at a loss due to the drastic price drop, and they will be hoping that new software will make up for the lost revenue and eventually make the console very profitable.

Source

Here is an article linked from Zelda Dungeon a few days ago, written for Examiner.com. "Remakes have been plaguing the video game market" it claims, and it offers a criticism of Ocarina of Time 3D: "when you look at the differences, or, lack thereof, with the 3DS version and the N64 there really isn't much new." I somewhat agree. I imagine many people missed out on the Master Quest, and perhaps it's worth getting Ocarina of Time 3D to play that. And the novelty of having Ocarina of Time 3D on a handheld console is a pretty good one, let alone being able to experience the game with polished graphics.

I just wish they added more new content. The upgraded inventory system and improved aiming is hardly exciting, and although the Boss Challenge mode is a neat touch, it's fundamentally nothing new. Some new items or a brand new dungeon would not have gone amiss, and such additions would not have had to affect the Ocarina of Time lore in any way. Even a few new mini games to Hyrule castle town would have been nice. Or imagine a wi-fi multiplayer mode? Ocarina of Time 3D could have been so much more than a basic port of the original, which is why I would recommend it only for the most hardcore of Zelda fans.

The Nintendo 3DS Conference that was rumored about earlier has now been confirmed. A website (in Japanese) has been set up, and the event is described as a "Nintendo 3DS new product announcement conference." Maybe the event won't be closed to consumers after all then. It seems a realistic possibility that Nintendo will announce they are to relaunch the 3DS under a new name.

Two days before the Tokyo gameshow starts, on the 13th September Nintendo will hold a private meeting with investors and analysts regarding the 3DS (consumers are not allowed in). The purpose of the meeting is not clear, though the experts present are almost certainly going to be discussing the future of the 3DS and what can be done to improve it's so-so reception. The Wii U may be up for discussion too.

Nintendo always has an event like this each year, so expect some new games to be announced too.

Rumour has it that Nintendo are going to redesign the 3DS in 2012. They may install an additional analog stick for the console, as well as changing its name to de-emphasis the "3D" aspect. A spokesperson for the company said:

"Nintendo is currently preparing a new 3DS for a 2012 release. This new version would radically tone down the whole `3D` angle, with a new design and even probably a different name."

It seems the mistakes Nintendo made with the 3DS are really starting to haunt them. It looks like they are extremely keen to do something about the 3DS's current situation after some mediocre sales forced a large price cut. Perhaps people just aren't all that bothered about the "3D" aspect and just want to play some handheld games. The lack of enthusiasm for 3D gaming explains the possibility of a name change, at least.

Super Mario 3D Land director Yoshiaki Koizumi had a chat with the Official Nintendo Magazine. During the interview, he was asked whether he was interested in remaking any Zelda games. He said:

"I guess I can't really say one title specifically because then the world will expect us to make it and I’ll get into a whole lot of trouble!

I can say that I really would like to see a lot of those games that use 3D worlds on 2D display just so I could see what they look like in 3D and see what kind of different experiences people would have playing through them on a 3D display. So in that sense I would love to see Sunshine and both Galaxy games presented in 3D, and a lot of the Zelda [games] would be interesting too."

So, this is just speculative but I think this shows that Nintendo are going to be remaking lots of classic games for the 3DS. Whether this is a good or bad thing, I'm not sure. It seems generally a good thing to me, as long as Nintendo doesn't stay stuck in the past and dedicates most of its resources to developing original software.

Via: Nintendo Buzz, Official Nintendo Magazine

If you live in England like I do and don't own a Nintendo 3DS yet, you may be pleased to know that prices are pretty damn low. Generally, you will be able to buy a 3DS for just over £100, compared to the original price of over £200. You can buy one at Tesco for £115. Better yet, Curry's and PC World claim that they have the cheapest 3DS's. If you can prove to them the price of 3DS consoles being sold in any store within a 30-mile radius of the PC World or Curry's store, they will offer you a 3DS for 10% off that price. So show them that Tesco are selling 3DS's for £115, and get your own 3DS for just £104. Happy shopping!

The 3DS price cut is now happening, but if you want this "flame red" 3DS model, you'll have to wait until 9th September, when it will be released in North America. The flame red 3DS is a bright, pinkish red.

This version of the 3DS also releases on the same day as Star Fox 64 3D (am I the only one who thinks just Star Fox 3D sounds better?), and it joins the two currently available 3DS colours, Cosmo Black and Aqua Blue.

Via Zelda Informer

Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 have had their release dates revealed.
Super Mario 3D Land: November 13th
Mario Kart 7: December 4th
Although Nintendo have said these are not set-in-stone, Nintendo have confirmed that they will definitely be released in their respective months (Mario 3D Land in November, Mario Kart 7 in December). Both these games will be awesome, especially Mario Kart 7 with the customization system. This announcement should also help potential 3DS owners who are on the fence about buying the console that it will finally have a selection of decent games.

Via: Nintendo Buzz

A recent survey conducted in Japan revealed that Japanese gamers are not particularly enthusiastic about the Nintendo 3DS. In a poll of 6,500 3DS owners, 30% felt "anger or regret" about the price drop, which suggests the free eShop games as compensation are not enough. 49.4% said the 3DS didn't have enough games, and 45.7% said they were not planning to buy, or were on the fence about buying, Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. Hopefully consumers will cool down once the price drop has been in effect for a while!

Source: Gamasutra